Johannesburg, South Africa: While the riveting action of the Telkom Netball League (TNL) kept our eyes glued to the high-stakes action on television and in the stands during Power Weeks One and Two, the true heart of this year’s tournament beat loudest during its community activations.
Telkom, alongside Netball South Africa (NSA), intentionally extended the impact of TNL 2026 far beyond the four quarters of the match court.
Through an ongoing series of Life Skills Outreach Programmes and Clinics, the league is proving it is not just about developing elite athletes; it’s about nurturing the next generation of South African leaders and inspiring them to stand tall.
Globally recognised South African netball superstar Karla Pretorius speaks highly of the initiative and its power to change lives: “It’s so important to give back. The fact that something has really changed from the past to where we are now is that you didn’t always see your heroes on TV. But now there is that opportunity.”
“The fact that we now go out and physically work with those kids is really inspiring. It’s so important for them to see how we go about doing our thing because it’s definitely gonna make a difference in a young girl’s life, whether it’s on or off the court,” said Pretorius. “We know that netball and any sport, especially for females, isn’t necessarily just about becoming professional. It’s about all those life skills you learn that you’re gonna have to use one day when you go out into the world.”
“It’s about keeping as many young girls as possible in our sport, not just for the sake of netball, but for the life skills they’re gonna learn. The more they see it, the more they’re gonna believe that they can also do it.”
Free State Crinums Captain, Karla Pretorius
Instead of just hosting standard sports drills, these nationwide activations use netball as a powerful platform to inspire, educate, and empower. Facilitators, coaches, and professional players are stepping directly into communities to speak to young learners about mental resilience, self-esteem, health, and wellness.
The #TelkomStandTall campaign is also fortunate to have global netball icon Bongi Msomi as its main ambassador. Alongside other players and coaches, she generously extends her time to change the lives of young girls.
Two powerful examples from this year’s rollout show exactly how Telkom’s overarching philosophy is changing lives off the court.
During Power Week One, at Greenwood High School in Durban, the TNL outreach team targeted grassroots youth by taking the game directly to school environments.
Engaging directly with eager learners, this session focused heavily on life-readiness, helping young students understand the power of their own voices and providing them with the confidence to take up space both in the classroom and in life.
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At Methula Secondary School (Fernie, Mpumalanga), the momentum continued to shift across provinces with specialised clinics, where Telkom brought a massive activation to the community.
The clinic focused heavily on technical skills development and mentorship. For those students, getting to interact with and learn directly from heroes who have walked the path from their “first pass to the crown” turned the aspiration of professional sport into an achievable reality.
By embedding capacity-building and social development directly into the tournament ecosystem, Telkom and NSA are changing the game. They aren’t just putting on a great show for television; they are planting seeds of confidence in the communities that need it most.
When we look back at the 2026 season, the on-court action will always make the daily highlights. But the true, lasting success of this league lies in the school halls of places like Greenwood and Methula, where young South Africans looked at the stars of the game and realised their own potential to stand tall.
Main Photo Caption: Telkom and Netball South Africa took the Telkom Netball League beyond the match court in 2026, using Life Skills Outreach Programmes and clinics to build confidence and wellness among learners at Greenwood High School in Durban and Methula Secondary School in Fernie, Mpumalanga. All Photos: Netball SA
Photo 2 Caption: Bongi Msomi fronts the Stand Tall campaign, taking professional mentorship directly into South African school communities.
Photo 3 Caption: Karla Pretorius also backs the grassroots drive, urging young girls to stay in the game for everything it teaches beyond the court.
Photo 4 Caption: As title sponsor, Telkom invested in weaving capacity-building and social development into the tournament for lasting value.
